Foldable chair



June 19, 1956 K. s. LAY 2,750,991

FOLDABLE CHAIR e@ I www@ K. S. LAY

FOLDABLE CHAIR June 19, 1956 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1955 INVENTOR. KENNETH S. LAY

/fM/I/f//f FOLDABLE CHAIR Kenneth S. Lay, St. Louis, Mo.

Application March 2, 1953, Serial No. 339,541

4 Claims. (Cl. 155-148) This invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction of foldable chairs.

An object of the invention is to provide a chair having its frame parts cooperatively arranged and connected to impart the appearance of a non-foldable construction, whereas the resulting chair is capable of being folded. Another object of this invention is to eliminate the characteristic structural arrangement of chair members utilized in the presently known arrangements for attaining foldability of a chair thereby overcoming certain of the disadvantages in the currently prevailing types of foldablechair structures.

A further object is to simplify the arrangement of the hinge or pivot points in a foldable chair to provide structural rigidity through the arrangement of such folding points and to avoid increasing the length of the chair when folded any large amount, as compared with the heighth of the back frame when erect.

Still another object of this invention is to construct a chair having its hinge or pivot points arranged so that the parts and members making up the side frames, seat frames, and back frames occupy positions in common planes respectively, thereby avoiding the usual crossed and overlapping parts characterizing present-day foldable chairs.

Other objects are to eliminate cross bracing of overlapping construction, do away with cross-connected legs, to provide bracing rails which are located close to the seat and back portions so as to be out of view and to eliminate exposed hardware or mechanical devices such as is characteristic of current types of foldable chairs.

One embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational View of the presently imroved foldable chair when in its unfolded position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the chair of Fig. l, but having the seat and back upholstery removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the chair assembly as seen along line 3--3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a View in section of the chair assembly in folded position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken at line 5 5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5;

Fig 7 is a fragmentary detail view taken at line 7-7 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail View taken at line 8--8 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail View as seen along line 9-9 in Fig. 3; l

Fig. 10 is a further fragmentary detail view taken at line lil-10 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. ll is an enlarged detail view of a typical resilient snap-fastener device used in connection with the present chair construction.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the preferred chair construction, but not necessarily the only construction, is shown in assembled view at 10. This chair 10 is provided with front legs 11 and 12, rear legs 13 and 14, arm rests 15 and 16, and seat and back frames nited States Patent O "ice 17 and 18 respectively. The seat frame is provided with interwoven upholstery 19 as shown in Fig. 8, and the back is also provided with similar upholstery shown at 20.

The chair parts and members are divided into left and right leg and arm frames each having its parts arranged in a common plane. Thus, the right-hand leg and arm frame, as viewed in Figs. l and 2 has the front and rear legs 11 and 13 and the arm rest 15 arranged in a common plane. In a similar manner, the right leg and arm rest frame has its legs 12 and 14 and arm rest 16 arranged in a common plane. These two arm rest and leg frames are interconnected by means of a front bracing rail 21 and a rear bracing rail 22. In the present construction, the arm rests 15 and 16 extend rearwardly beyond the upper end of the rear legs 13 and 14 respectively, and these rearwardly extensions 15 and 16 respectively are interconnected by means of a back bracing rail 23. The rails 21, 22 and 23 hold the frames in fixed relation so that no increase in the spacing thereof, or spread, will take place. The parts thus far described constitute the leg and arm frame of the chair assembly.

The foregoing leg and arm chair assembly is adapted to carry the seat and back frames 17 and 18 between the planes deined by the left and right leg and arm frames. Thus, the seat frame includes a pair of side rails 24 and 25, these being arranged at the left and right sides respectively of the chair assembly and in a common plane with the seat. The side rails 24 and 25 are connected by means of a front spreader member 26 and a rear spreader member 27. The back frame 18 includes a pair of side rails 28 and 29 which are in a common plane and connected by means of an upper spreader member 30 and intermediate spreader member 31 and a lower spreader member 32. The seat rails 24 and 25 and the respective back rails 28 and 29 are in common planes; that is, rails 24 and 28, and rails 25 and 29 are in common planes so that these rails may fold or pivot relative to the planes of the leg and arm rest frames.

In the chair assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the upholstery may be taken as illustrating only one form thereof which may be used in connection with the present chair. This upholstery 19 and 20 for the seat and back portions respectively includes a plurality of strips of webbing interwoven and secured to the seat and back rails and spreader members. The upholstery 19 for the seat extends from the front spreader 26 to the bottom spreader 32 for the back frame. The upholstery 20 for the back frame is disposed between the back frame spreaders 30 and 31 and between the side rails 28 and 29, as shown. Thus, the upholstery for the chair back frame 18 leaves an opening in the back frame between the intermediate spreader 31 and the bottom spreader 32 of this frame. In order to render the chair comfortable, the upper spreader 30 has been cut away along the front margin 30', the intermediate spreader 31 has been cut away at 31', and the lower spreader 32 has been cut away at the bevelled margin 32. In a similar manner, the spreader member 27 of the seat frame has been suitably cut away at the margin 27. The foregoing is understood to be illustrative of only one form of seat and back arrangement which can be applied to the present chair. Other types and arrangements of supporting provisions will come to mind after the construction of the present chair is understood.

Considering now the right-hand leg and arm frame, attention will be particularly directed to Fig. 3 and to such other detailed views as may be necessary. The front leg 12 has its upper end fitted to the forward end of the arm rest 16 in a mitered joint which provides a mounting surface for a pivot means or leaf-type hinge 34. The pivot means or hinge 34, Figs. 5 and 6, includes the leaf 35 attached to the upper mitered end of leg 12 and the leaf 36 attached to the forward mitered end of arm rest 16. The hinge axis is located in the hinge pin 37 which is substantially coincident with the undersurface of arm 16 and the rear surface of leg 12, thereby effectively concealing the hinge 34 from view when the leg 12 and arm rest 16 are in their unfolded position. The hinge 342 may be secured to the leg and arm parts 12 and 16 by means of screws 38 and screws 39 which may penetrate to the desired extent for rigidly securing the hinge. The hinge leaves 35 and 36 may be conveniently located in recesses formed in the abutting faces of the leg and arm parts 12 and 16 respectively so that the latter parts may be brought together to improve the appearance of the chair. The foregoing description of hinge 34 with respect to the leg 12 and arm rest 16 is understood to apply equally as well to a similar pivot means or hinge connecting the upper end of leg 11 with the forward end of arm rest 15. Such a hinge has been indicated at in Fig. l.

Still referring to Fig. 3, and to certain other views of the drawing as may be appropriate, the upper end of rear leg 14 is connected in a butt joint at the underside of the arm rest 16 intermediate the length thereof by a pivot means or hinge 4t). This hinge 40 may be similar to hinge 34, and includes a hinge leaf 41 secured in the underside of arm rest 16 and a cooperating hinge leaf 42 connected in the upper end of leg 14. The hinge pin 43 is concealed beneath the arm rest 16 and provides a hinge axis which is parallel with the axis of hinge 34. As shown, hinge 40 is well concealed under the arm rest 16, and the leaves of this hinge may be located in recesses as described for leaves 35 and 36 above. in this arrange ment of hinges, it is observed that both the front and rear legs 12 and 14 attached to the arm rest 16 are adapted to swing or fold in the same direction, relatively rearwardly with respect to the arm 16. The hinge 40 described in connection with the pivoting of rear leg 14 relative to the arm rest 16 is understood to be typical of the hinge connection shown at 40 in Fig. 2 between the arm rest 15 and the rear leg 13 for the opposite leg and arm frame.

It is understood that the present chair may have the hinge connections of front legs 12 and 13 with the respective arm rests 15 and 16 of the butt joint type illustrated for the rear legs 13 and 14.

The present chair construction is further arranged so that the seat frame 17 is pivotally connected for movement between the respective left and right leg and arm frames. This is accomplished by providing blind pivot means between the seat frame 17 and the rear legs 13 and 14 respectively. Attention will now be directed to Figs. 3, 8 and 9 wherein the rear leg 14 is shown to be provided with a socket 45 which opens at the inner surface. Similarly, the adjacent portion of the side rail 24 of the seat frame 17 is provided with a socket 46, such socket also extending if desired into the adjacent end of the spreader 27 at the rear portion of the seat frame. A pivot member or pin 47 is placed in and between the respective sockets 45 and 46 whereby the parts 14 and 24 are pivotally interconnected and are suitably held for freedom of movement in spaced relation by a washer 48. The pivotal connection is completely concealed from view, and the rear bracing rail 22 holds the legs against spreading so that the pins 47 cannot get out. The foregoing description relating to the means for mounting the blind pivot element 47 between leg 14 and seat rail 24 may be taken as typical for a similar blind-pivot element 47 located between the leg 13 and the side rail 25 of the seat frame, such as that indicated at Fig. 2. Pins 47 and 47 are on the same axis.

The present chair also is provided with a pivot or hinge connection between the seat frame 17 and the back frame 18. In this arrangement a pair of hinges f) and StB is provided interconnecting the lowermost spreader member 32 for the back frame 18 and the spreader member 27 between the side rails 24 and 25 of the seat frame 17.

In Fig. 3, hinge 50 has its pivot pin 51 arranged parallel with the previously-described hinge pins 37 and 43. Hinge leaves 52 and 53 are secured respectively by screws or other means to the parts 32 and 27. Hinges 5t) and 5d are widely spaced, being located adjacent the side rails 24 and 25 of the seat frame 17, thereby giving stability to the hinge connection between the seat frame and back frame. Hinges S0 and 50 may be portions of a continuous hinge (not shown) of the piano type.

The seat frame 17 of the present chair construction is supported on the blind pivot pin elements 47 and 47 between the rear legs 13 and 14. The front portion of the seat frame 17 is supported on the front bracing rail 21 fixed between the front legs 11 and 12. The connection between rail 21 and the legs 11 and 12 may be by dowels 21', as shown in Fig. 7. Similar means may be used at other fixed joints in the chair, or by any glued joint adaptable to furniture construction. In addition to the support offered to seat frame 17 by the bracing rail 21, the seat frame is also releasably connected with the bracing rail 21 by means of a pair of snapfastener devices 55 and 55. These devices are substantially identical, and one thereof has been illustrated in detail in Fig. l1. A stud element 56 of the snap-fastener device is anchored by means of a screw 57, and a resilient socket member 5S is suitably anchored by a screw device 59 in a position opposite to the stud S6. In the present use of such a device, it is preferred to secure the stud 56 to the bracing rail 21 and to counterset the socket 58 in the undersurface of the side rail 24 in position to cooperate with the stud 56 so as to completely conceal the snap fastener. The snap-fastener device 55 for the opposite side of the chair is similarly located, as will be appreciated. A similar pair of snapfastener devices is provided in the respective side rails 28 and 29 of the back frame 1S and the adjacent face of the cooperating back bracing rail 23 fixed between thc rearwardly-extending portion 15' and 16 of the arm rests. These devices 55 and 55 are identical in construction with that shown in Fig. ll, and their arrangement is clearly indicated in Figs. 3, 4 and 10.

It is understood that other positioning means and fastener' devices (not shown) may be used in place of and to act for the devices 55 and 55.

The presently preferred foldable chair constructed in accordance with the foregoing is provided with a link 61 which is pivotally secured to the seat-frame side rail 24 by a suitable screw device 62. The opposite end of link 61 is connected into the front bracing rail 21 by means of a screw eye 63. This link 61 controls the folding action of the front legs 11 and 12 in coordinated arrangement with the folding action of the seat frame 17. A further view of the link 61 may be seen in Figs. 2 and 4. The mounting of link 61 in its operative position is obtained by locating the securing element 62 a distance half way between the positions of fastener parts 56 and 5S as shown in Fig. 4. Once this position has been located, the length of the link will be easily determined. This mounting arrangement avoids any binding action of link 61 on either the seat frame 17 or the bracing rail 21.

Link 61 has the function of bringing the front legs into folded position concurrently with seat folding, of holding the front legs in folded position so that the weight thereof will not tend to unfold the chair, and also it has the function of unfolding the front legs and guiding the rail 21 into position in relation to seat frame 17 so that the fastener parts 56 and 58 come together properly.

The folding action of the chair will now be described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4. One method to be followed in folding the chair is first to release the back frame 1t; from its position held by the snap-fastener devices 55 and 55' against the back bracing rail 23. Thus, back frame 13 may be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of hinge pins 51 so that this back frame 18 is released from its erect position. The next step in folding the chair is to exert downward pressure on the back bracing rail 23 while lifting upwardly at the front spreader 26 of the seat frame 17. This operation releases the seat frame 17 from the snap-fastener devices 55 and 55', and pivots the seat frame 17 clockwise about the hidden pivot pins 47 and y47 in the rear legs 13 and 14. Thus, the seat frame 17 is brought adjacent to back frame 18 by movement upwardly relative to the rear legs 13 and 14 about the hidden pivot pins 47 and 47.

Concurrently with this latter folding operation, link 61 will transmit an upward pull to the front bracing rail 21, thereby effecting a lifting action on the front legs 11 and 12. Upward movement of front legs 11 and 12 is freely permitted by reason of the location of the hinges 34 and 34' between the upper ends of the front legs 12 and 11 respectively and the forward ends of the arm rests 16 and 15 respectively. Since the two front legs 11 and 12 are caused to be elevated by the action of control link 61, the tendency is to force the arm rests 15 and 16 upwardly also. This is freely permitted by reason of the hinges 40 and 40' located between the upper ends of the rear legs 14 and 13 respectively and the intermediate portion of arm rests 16 and 15 respectively. As the arm rests 16 and 15 pivot upwardly or clockwise about the hinge axis, it will be appreciated that the back bracing rail 23 interconnecting the arm rests will be pivoted downwardly, or it may be pushed concurrently with lift applied to rail 26, so as to fall adjacent to the position assumed by the back frame 18.

The folded position of the parts of the present chair may be seen in Fig. 4, wherein the back frame 18, the seat frame 17, and the front legs 11 and 12 occupy parallel positions and all are closely adjacent. The rear legs 13 and 14 are moved into a position in which they do not project laterally beyond the folded thickness of the three parallel and adjacent portions above described. The arm rests and 16 assume a diagonal position across the folded seat and back frames 17 and 18 respectively so that only the back bracing rail 23 projects beyond the back frame 18. When the present chair has been adjusted to its folded position of Fig. 4, the rear legs 13 and 14 serve to support the folded chair, thereby placing the weight of the parts of the chair frame in such a position as to tend to hold the chair in folded condition. Rail 23 also tends to hold the back frame 18 in folded position. The unfolding operation of the chair is effected by reversing the steps set forth in the foregoing description relating to the folding up of the chair.

The foregoing description relates to one embodiment of folding chair which eliminates the characteristic structural features identified with folding chairs of presentday construction. The chair herein shown and described avoids lapped-type joints between arms and legs, crossed arrangement of legs, exposed pivot or hinge members, and the usual arrangement of cross braces between the foldable legs near the oor level where they are in full view. yOther improved features and advantages of the presently improved foldable chair will come to mind in view of the foregoing description, but it is understood that the invention is not to be limited except as may be required by the annexed claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable chair comprising spaced arm rests, a back brace rail connecting the rearward ends of said arm rests, front legs hingedly connected to the forward ends of said arm rests, rear legs hingedly connected to said arm rests between the forward and rearward ends thereof, a seat frame and a back frame hingedly interconnected for folding and unfolding movementrelative to said legs and arm rests, means pivotally connecting said seat frame to said rear legs, said back frame in its unfolded position being supported against said back brace rail, a front brace rail connecting said front legs and being positioned to support said seat frame between said front legs, and releasable fastener means on said back frame and back brace rail releasably securing said back frame in 6 unfolded position and, with said pivot means and the hinge connection of said rear legs to said arm rests, forming a triangle for locking the chair in unfolded position.

2. A foldable chair comprising spaced arm rests, a back brace rail connecting the rearward ends of said arm rests, front legs hingedly connected to the forward ends of said arm rests, rear legs hingedly connected to said arm rests between the forward and rearward ends thereof, a seat frame and a back frame hingedly interconnected for folding and unfolding movement relative to said legs and arm rests, means pivotally connecting said seat frame to said rear legs, said back frame in its unfolded position being supported against said back brace rail, a front brace rail connecting said front legs and being positioned to support said seat frame between said front legs, releasable fastener means on said back frame and back brace rail releasably securing said back frame in unfolded position, and with said pivot rneans and the hinge connection of said rear legs to said arm rests, forming a triangle for locking the chair in unfolded position, and means connecting said seat frame and said front brace rail to cause simultaneous upward and rearward folding action of said legs and arm rests with folding movement of said seat frame upwardly and rearwardly toward said back frame.

3. A foldable chair comprising spaced arm rests, a back brace rail connecting the rearward ends of said arm rests, front legs hingedly connected to the forward ends of said arm rests, rear legs hingedly connected to said arm rests between the forward and rearward ends thereof, a seat frame and a back frame hingedly interconnected for folding and unfolding movement relative to said legs and arm rests, means pivotally connecting said seat frame to said rear legs, said back frame in its unfolded position being supported against said back brace rail, a front brace rail connecting said front legs and being positioned to support said seat frame between said front legs, said seat frame being movable upwardly between and relative to said front legs in its folding movement and said back brace rail being movable downwardly toward said pivot means for said seat frame, and means connecting said front legs and seat frame for folding said legs upwardly and rearwardly upon folding of the chair.

4. In a folding chair: two side frames consisting of an arm rest and front and rear legs hingedly connected to the arm rest, said arm rest of each frame having an extension projecting rearwardly from the connection with its said rear leg; brace means connecting said two side frames and including a single front brace rail connecting said front legs, a single rear brace rail connecting said rear legs and a single back brace rail connecting the rearward ends of said arm rest extensions; seat and back frames hingedly interconnected and adapted to be foldable relative to said two side frames; pivot means connecting said seat frame to said rear legs in position for having said seat frame rest upon said front brace rail and said back frame rest gainst said back brace rail; and means releasably fastening said black frame to said back brace rail and with said pivot means and the hinged connection of said rear legs and arm rests forming a triangle for locking the chair when unfolded.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,239,669 Blake Apr. 29, 1941 2,340,788 Aylor Feb. 1, 1944 2,468,491 Dorschner Apr. 26, 1949 2,521,200 Beckenbauer Sept. 5, 1950 2,633,183 Norquist Mar. 3l, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 194,106 Great Britain Mar. 8, 1923 518,376 Great Britain Feb. 26, 1940 

